Ordnance



Feb. 26, 1946. G. E. scHuLTz ORDNANC E 'Filed July 23, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheei'l l INVENTOR GERARD E. SCHULTZ BY @wf ATT'rln-:Ys

Feb. 26, 1946. G. E. scHuLTz 2,395,585

ORDNANCE Filed July23, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GERM-:p EL SCHUL-rz ATTORNEYS feb. ze, 1946.

G. E. SCHUL-rz ORDN'ANCE Filed July 23, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r-'l G. 5

INVENTOR vLAn-f. NEYS ATT Patented Feb. 26, 1946 ORDNANCE Gerard E. Schultz, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Bell Aircraft Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application `luly 23, 1943, Serial No. 495,885

4 Claims.

This invention relates to ordnance, and more particularlyto ammunition magazine means for feeding rapid fire cannon or machine guns or the like. The magazine is of the type which is adapted to store and feed relatively heavy caliber ammunition rounds, as in connection with rapid fire cannon mounted upon combat aircraft, or thc like; and a particular feature of the magazine is that it is suited to be mounted with improved results within an airplane fuselage or nacelle for feeding ammunition to rapid fire type guns mounted upon the same structure.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved ammunition magazine of the character referred to and which comprises essentially a continuous track upon which ammunition rounds are carried to be laterally slidable in side-by-side relation by means of a feed control belt training adjacent the track for feeding the ammunition rounds successively into the associated gun. More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in track-type magazines of the character aforesaid, whereby dimensional variances with respect to ammunition feed control belts successively mounted upon the magazine-s may be quickly and effectively compensated for by manual adjustment of the track structure. Another more specific object of the present invention is to provide in a magazine of the character aforesaid an improved track section collapsing and dimensional adjustment means, whereby the magazine track will be adapted to be serviced with fresh ammunition in improved manner and to be adjusted in connection 'with each servicing thereof in improved manner so as to maintain the ammunition load therein in ideal gun feeding condition. @ther objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a magazine of the invention, shown as being mounted within an airplane fuselage and in conjunction with a rapid re cannon;

Fig. 2 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the magazine of Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of details of the track section collapsing and dimensional adjusting mechanism of the invention as applied to the magazine of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a pair of ammunition feed control belt sections arranged in an articulated relation.

The drawings illustrate the invention as being embodied in an ammunition magazine mounted within an airplane fuselage which is generally indicated at IIJ, and in operative relation with respect to a rapid re gun or cannon indicated generally at I2. The cannon I2 is illustrated as being disposed substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the airplane fuselage Ill, and approximately centrally thereof; the gun ammunition feedway portion thereof being illustrated at I4 to comprise a casing open at opposite sides thereof for registry with corresponding end portions of the ammunition magazine and with the continuous rounds feeding belt device thereof. Thus, the gun and magazine unit is arranged so that rounds of ammunition will be moved laterally while in side-by-side relation into the ammunition feed'way casing I4 of the gun, to be then acted upon successively by the ammunition feed pawl mechanism of the gun so as to be stripped from the magazine feed control belt and pulled downwardly into the charging mechanism of the gun. Intermediately of the gun charging operations the ammunition carrying belt of the magazine will be rotated by the gun feed pawl mechanism so as to pull the next succeeding ammunition round into the feedway casing I4 of the gun.

To provide the operation referred to hereinabove, the ammunition magazine comprises a gene erally C-shaped track-like structure (Fig. l) including a pair of U-shaped sections I5-I5 each of which comprises a frame including a pair of opposed end plates IS-IS which are maintained in spaced parallel arrangement by means of a plurality of cross bars I8 connected thereto by screws or other suitable connectors at I 9. The end plates lli-Iii are spaced so as to accommodate in lengthwise attitude therebetween the rounds of ammunition as indicated at 2U for feeding the gun I2. Each end plate IB--IS is formed with a horizontally disposed flange 2I adapted to provide an annular ledge upon which will rest the corresponding end portions of the ammunition rounds 20.

The two frame sections I5--I5 interconnect at the upper reach of the magazine so as to dispose their end plate and ledge portions in smooth continuation of one another. The connection between the frame sections is made to be detachable, as by over-lapping lug portions at 22 and spring pressed pins 23 carrying integral fingers 24 Iwhich are adapted to be manually manipulated for retraction of the pins to disconnect cooperating lug portions of the frames. At the lower reach of the magazine structure the frame sections I5-l 5 terminate in opposed end portions which are so spaced to accommodate therebetween the ammunition feedway casing portion I4 of the gun; and suitable detachable connection latch devicesas indicated at 26 are provided to be adjusted by manual manipulation of spring-pressed control pins as indicated at 28, and by cam-type pin and finger connectors as indicated at 3D. It will be understood that the connectors may be of the type shown at the upper reach of the magazine, or of s ide-by-.side relationv and to be freely slidable in' sidewise direction upon the circuitous. trackvvay for feeding of the ammunition rounds successively into the ammunition feedway casing E@ of the associated gun.r

To maintain the ammunition rounds in proper relative positions and to cause the rounds tobe fed positively tothe cannon, a feed control'belt isl providedy lto comprise a plurality `of linked plates each of which` is. adaptd to, detachabl-y connect to, a corresponding` annnunitionl round and to be linked together tojcornprise an endless belt lying adjacent theY inside` profile of the am munition load of the magazinel and to register Witnthey ammunition feed pawlmechanism of the gun and to be driven thereby to intermittently` rotate the entire ammunition load of. the magazineA inthedirection of ammunition 4feeding to the extent required t o feed one. round to the gun. Asfllustrated in Fig. 5, the ammunition feed c ontrol belt is provided toV comprise ajseries of belt, platesf'which may be stamped from sheet metalY or thelike or otherwise. formed to comprise generally squareY shaped metal plates having paired lugs` 35i-35. and NT3? extending fromy opposite ends thereof and il laterally offset peg. SQHVSSO as, t0 be adapted to register in side-bye. siderelationwith opposite y lugs ofv the next adjacent ofv said plates whenv arranged in continuous; beltflilge. formations. Pinsarexed to, extend.

from one pair; of said lugsgsoas to beA adapted tobe sliptted` into hinge connectionelationwith, the lugs. of the, next adjacent belt plate; and,` the connection lugs and pins. are` Sadimensrioned and relatively arranged that thefeed control belt; mayv be, readily assembled and disassembled.. by

simple sidewise; movements of. one` belt. plate, 3.5.

relatiye to a next adjacentbelt platef Each belt plate 35 is also provided with a,y Ueshapedspring clampwdevice having opposedspring fingen lpor-tions dile-Aextending normally to, the plane of the plate and so dimensioned andx ar'- ranged as Yto be adapted` to reach outwardly into resilient` gripping relation upon opposite sidesvof the.. arrimu'nition round to be; mounted uponY theA plate (Fig, 3)V at the central body portion 'there-` of. Thus, theclamp fingers 4i). are adapted toy receiye. inV cradled relation thereinv theV mid-sec-M tionof a.l single ammunition roundwhen pressedthereinto against. the.` resiliency ofthe clamps, andeach beltA plat-,e135 thusmounts an individual, ammunitionl round-and acts: to maintain adjaf. cent, rounds in properly, spaced relationV inaccord with the i feedingY requirements: of themechanism oftheassociated gun, Cradle plates lll- MY may alsoloe. carried| by eachof the beltpllates. 3,5V at. positions, spaced,` longitudinally ofA theround toy provide accuratelyA positionedjcradling o f each ammunitionlollnd upon the belt plate.y

Topcsitionthe feedlcontrolfbelt relative to the;

magazine structure and the ammunition load,

and to support the feed control belt for free sliding movement relative to the magazine fixed structure, a beltvslide traclf:V is fixed to the magazine1 structure at a position intermediately of the end plates lB--l 5 of the magazine frame, as indicated generally at 45. The slide trackway 45 comprises generally a pair of spaced end plates 4%.-48 having vertically disposed inner surfaces spaced apart so as to accommodate therebetween the control belt plates 35-35 for free sliding mountingV of the control belt Within the space between the endrplates 43-48- The plates 43-48 are carried by the cross bars I8 by being permanently mounted thereon. A pair of slide rails 51)?50y are alsol carried bythe cross bars i8 to be disposed intermediately of the end plates. 8V-.4B and to register at their outer surface p0rtions; with the prescribed contour of travel of thev feed control belt. Thus, the belt is arranged` to, be radially supported, upon the magazine structure by meansZ of the slide railsl 50.-50. so as to be freely slidable therearound while being guided` gainsty disalgnment relative to the magazine in directions longitudinally of the ammunition roundsl by means of the end plates 5S- 48. As,v shown in Fig. 3, theI end plates 'i3-48 are so shaped at their outer edge portions to extend outwardly and,v beyond the profile level of the feeddimensioned so asto hug the. slide rails: SVB-Ell snugly, thus preventing the-belt plates 35 from;

jumping over theA and rails lid- 48 andA out of proper operational alignment.

Toenable the feedcontrolbelt to lie-assembled and disassembled relative to. the magazine track-` Way, the feed beltslidevvay is arrangedto'include at a curved prole portion thereof a hinged track sectionrwhich is adapted; to be. retracted,y when. A desired, so as. to shorten the total dimensionpe1-- rmetrally of the, belt slideway. Thus, WhenV it.

isdesired. toginstallthe feedl control belt .in operr ative relation uponthemagazine,l the retractable; belt Sldewaysection is` rst released tofshorten, thedistancearoundtheslideway, A feed control'. belt having.V the prescribed number of belt platesv 315 will then: be wrapped about the magazineso astobe generally-residing Within` the belt slide-- Way.l The. two; loose-ends.. of the belt will then be brought` into. connecting registry. As explained hereinabove, l interconnection ofthe two end belt plates.` may be thenY effected by rst.

disposing the plates in approximate registry but Withtheir coacting lug and pin portions to be in laterally,.- cffsetrrelation.. Simple sidewiserela-v tive movement of: the twoadjacent belt'platesWill thereupon cause the connecting pins to-slip into`Y link-ing p osition, and theA entire belt assembly will then be in operative alignment;

To eifect a connection,` as: described; hereinabove, and to enable adjacent of the beltl plates to be 4brought into-connecting-registry;while being disposedbeyondthereach ofz the endplateportions wells.. of theslideftrack. Retractioni of the slidevvay portion referred ito hereinabove enables,- `the interconnecting belt plate portions toY bers()` disposed beyondY the` reach ofthe end plate portionsAB-.liaduringthe beltconnection operation. Then, upon;v completion'l of; the belt connection,

the?retr-actablefslidewaysection Will be adjusted:l to, its extended positionso as tto. lierin smooth? continuationY of the Vpronle of the main slideway portions and to extend the perimetral dimension of the slideway to the prescribed operative length thereof so as to cause the connected feed control belt to be pulled into firmly guided relation between the end plates 48--48 and to hug the slide rails 50--50 snugly.

To disassemble the feed control belt from the magazine structure the above described operation is simply reversed. That is, the retractable slideway section is rst released so as to hinge inwardly to reduce the perimetral dimension required to be occupied by the feed belt. The feed belt is thereby relaxed so as to be adapted to be withdraw at any convenient point -about the slideway away from the reach of the end plates 48- 48, whereupon any two adjacent belt plates 35 may be relatively Vdisplaced by manual manipulation in opposite lateral directions so as to disconnect the corresponding pin and lug devices. Thereupon the feed con-trol belt is disconnected and is free to be taken from the track.

To accommodate the above described procedures the belt track r-ails 50--50 may be terminated as indicated at 52 (Figs, 2, 3, 4), and the space between the terminal positions 52-52 is arranged to be substantially occupied by a pair of correspondingly shaped arcuate rail sections 54-54 disposed in spaced parallel relation, as viewed in Figs. 2-3, so as to register in directional alignment with the track sections ll-50, while being arcuately shaped in side elevation as shown in Fig. 4 to complement generally the curved profile form of the track section. The rail sections Eil-5i! are interconnected by means of upper and lower sleeves 56-51 to provide a rigid frame-like structure. The lower sleeve 51 is rotatably mounted upon .the corresponding cross bar I8 so as to cause the rail sections 54-54 to be freely pivotable as a unit about their mounting upon the lower cross bar I8 in directions radially of the magazine. The rail sections 54--54 and the pivotal mounting thereof at 51 are so arranged as to anchor the lower ends of the rails 54-54' in approximate registry with adjacent terminal end portions of the rail sections 50-50, in any position of swinging adjustment of the rail sections S11-54.

To control the swinging movement of the retractable rail section, the upper sleeve 56 is arranged to carry in rotatable relation thereon a collar 6o upon which is formed a boss 62. A lever 64 is mounted at one end portion thereof within the boss 62 in such manner as to resist relative movement between the boss and the lever in directions longitudinally of the lever, while the lever is free to rotate relative to the boss. Intermedlately of its ends the lever 64 is screwthreaded through a block 66, and the block 66 is formed with a pair of oppositely extending nubs 68-68. The nubs 68-68 are arranged to extend in free sliding relationship into arcuately slotted portions 69-69 of a pair of guide plates 'I0- 10 which are disposed in upright parallel spaced relation at opposite sides of the retractable track section and at corresponding positions between the end plates 68-48 and the corresponding rail sections v5l-54. The plates 'I0- T0 are permanently stationed upon the magazine structure, as by being threaded at suitable apertured end portions thereofupon the cross bars l 8-18 which lie adjacent the retractable track section. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the plates 'l0-10 extend somewhat diagonally and vertically to subtend the arc of the retractable track section. A spring finger type detachable clamp device as illustrated at 12 is mounted upon each plate member 10,' and the fingers thereof are so arranged as to resiliently grip upon the nub 68 extending through the slotted portion 69 of `the plate whenever the screw block 66 is swung upwardly so that the nubs 68-68 are disposed at the end portions of the slots 69-69.

The lever 64 is fitted at its outer end with a knob or wing nut T5 or the like which is keyed to the lever whereby manual turning of the knob will rotate the lever upon the boss 62 and thereby cause the block 66 to move in a direction longitudinally of the lever, according to the direction of rotation of the knob. Thus, it will be understood that the lever 64 may be manually adjusted by rotation of the knob in such manner as to regulate the distance between theY upper end of the retractable track section and the nubs 68-68 so that when the knob end of the lever is pulled upwardly to dispose the nubs in gripped relation within the clamps 12-12 the upper end of the swinging track section will be thereby extended and disposed in directional registry with the xed track sections Eil-5D while tightening the ammunition feed belt upon the rail sections .5U- 54. Thus, it will be understood that subsequent to installation of every new feed control belt upon the magazine trackway the knob 'l5 may be manually drawn into the uppermost position thereof as shown in Fig. 4 and thereupon rotated relative to the block 66 so as to force the swinging end. portion of the retractable track section outwardly against the ammunition feed control belt to provide any desired degree of tightening thereof. The spring clamps 'i2-12 will thereupon maintain the screw 64 normally in track holding position.

To permit the retractable trackway section to be quickly collapsed, as for rapid disassembly of a damaged ammunition feed belt from the magazine in accord with the procedure outlined hereinabove, the slotted portions 69-69 of the plates Ill- 10 are formed to extend downwardly from the normal position of the nubs 68-68 and in arcuate direction, so as to enable the knob carrying end portion of the lever 64 to be pulled manually downwardly from the solid line position thereof shown in Fig. 4, to break the engagement between the nubs 68 and the clamps 12. Thus, the nubs 68 are then free to slide downwardly through the slots so as to permit the lever and collar unit 64-60 to rotate while the swinging end portion of the trackway pivots inwardly or in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 toward the broken line position thereof. Thus, it will be understood that due to this collapsing movement of the retractable track section the perimetral dimension of the feed belt trackway is thereby quickly reduced, and the belt may thereupon be lifted out of guided relation between the end plates 48-48 of the trackway for disconnection of the belt by relative sidewise motions of any two adjacent belt plates, as explained hereinabove.

To install a new belt upon the trackway, the belt is first wrapped about the trackway while the retractable track section is in the collapsed position referred to; the loose ends of the belt are then interconnected as explained hereinabove and laid into the trackway; whereupon the knob 15 is manually moved upwardly to the solid line position thereof shown in Fig. 4 for locking the retractable track section in its extended position. At any time a fine adjustment of the perimetral dimension of the trackway may be effected by rrizniua'l4 rotationof` thev knob 15, so as to adjust the lever relative tothe block 66 to provide the preferred. degree of tension upon the feed control, belt for operational purposes. As shown in Figs. 2-4, series of rollers Sil'may be provided to extend between the paired' rail sections d-'and '54h-54 forrrolling support of the feed control belt-to ease the movement thereof. over the trackway rails inthe region of the collapsible section, irrespective of the'adjusted position of the retractable rail section.

Y vI claim:

I. An ammunition feed magazine for'use in conjunction with a gun, said magazine comprising al frame having a circular ammunition supporting and guiding trackway thereon for mountinga plurality of ammunition rounds in side-byside relation for sliding movement of said rounds uponsaid trackway for feeding said gun, a slideway carried Vby saidl frame to extend parallel to said trackway and in substantial conformity with the circular profile form thereof, an ammunition feedV control belt device encompassing and slidably disposed within said slideway to be guided thereby and'having spring finger devices extending therefrom to separately engage said ammunition rounds, said frame having a cam track thereon, said slideway having a curved profile portion thereof structurally separate from other portions thereof and pivotable relative to said other portions for regulating the perimetral dimension around said slideway, manual control means coupled to said pivotable section and extending therefrom into slide bearing connection with said camtrack of said frame, said' control means and said. pivotal section and said cam track being so constructed and arranged whereby said control means may be manually manipulated to slide upcnsaid' cam track to cause said pivotal section toarock relative to said other portions, and adjustment means carried by said control means and' arranged to' be manually manipulated to adjust said control means relative to said `cam trackto regulate the degree of tensioning of said belt as may be desired in conjunction with rocking'k of said pivotal slideway section. Y

'2; AnL ammunition feedv magazine for use in 'conjunction with a' gun, said magazinev comprising a frame having a circular ammunition trackway thereon for mounting a plurality of ammunition rounds for movement f said rounds upon said trackwayv for feeding said gun, a slideway carried by said frame to extend parallel to said trackway and in substantial conformity with the circular profile form thereof, an ammunition feed controlbelt encompassing and slidably disposed within said slideway to beguided thereby and having devices extending therefrom to separately engage said ammunition rounds, said slideway having a portion thereof pivotable relative to saldi frame for V regulating the perimetral dimension around said slideway, said frame having a cam track thereon, manual control means coupled to said pivotable section and extending therefrom into bearing connection with said cam track` ofA saidframe, said control means and said' pivotal,

sectionV and said am track being so constructed and arranged whereby said control means-may be manually manipulated to slide uponA said camtrack to cause said pivotal vsection toV rock. relative to said frame, and adjustment means carried by'said` control means and arranged to be manu-V ally'manipulated to adjust said control means ascensos relative to said cam track to regulate the degree of tensioning of said belt as may beV desired in conjunction with rocking of said pivotal slideway section. Y

31. An ammunition feed magazine for use in conjunction with a gun, said magazine comprising a frame having a circular ammunition track- Way thereon for mounting a plurality of ammuni-v Yengage said ammunition rounds, said slideway having upst'anding end wall portions adapted to maintain said belt plates in self-aligned laterally interlocked form when disposed within said slideway, said Vslideway having a portion thereof pivotable relative to said frame for regulating the perimetralv dimension around said slideway, said frame having a cam track thereon manual cont-rol means coupled to said pivotable section and extending therefrom into 'bearing connection with said cam track of said frame, said control meansand said pivotal section and said cam track beingv so constructed and arranged whereby saidV control means may be manually manipulated to slide upon saidY cam track to cause said pivotal section to rock relative to saidf frame, and adjustment means carried by said control means an'd'arranged to be manually manipulated to adjust said lcontrol means' relative to said cam track means to regulate the degreeof tensioning of said belt as may be desired in conjunction with rocking of said pivotal slideway section.

4; An ammunition feed magazine for use in conjunction with a gun, said magazine comprising a frame having a circular ammunition trackway thereon for mounting a plurality of ammunition roundsfor movement of said rounds upon said trackway for feeding said gun, a slideway carriedY by said frameto extend parallel to said trackway and in substantial conformity with the circular profile form thereof, an ammunition feed control belt device encompassing and slidably disposed within said slideway to be guided there'- by and havingfdevices extending therefrom to separately engage'said ammunitionv rounds, said slideway having a portion thereof pivotable relativeto said frame for regulating the perimetral dimension around said slideway, a cam track means andl arranged to'be manually'manipulated toadjust lsaid controlmeans relative to said cam` track Vmeans to regulatethe degree of tensioning of said-belt as'may be desired in conjunction with rock-ing of said pivotal slideway section, and

:spring latch. means carried by said frame and adapted toengage said control means whenin cammed belt tensioningv lposition for releasably holding; said control means in said position. j

' Y GERARD E; SCHULTZ.. 

